The Prose Works of Jonathan Swift, D.D. - Volume 07 eBook

I have sometimes thought, that this paradox of the
Kingdom growing rich, is chiefly owing to those worthy
gentlemen the BANKERS, who, except some custom-house
officers, birds of passage, oppressive thrifty squires,
and a few others that shall be nameless, are the only
thriving people among us: And I have often wished
that a law were enacted to hang up half a dozen bankers
every year, and thereby interpose at least some short
delay, to the further ruin of Ireland.

“Ye are idle, ye are idle,” answered Pharaoh
to the Israelites, when they complained to his Majesty,
that they were forced to make bricks without straw.

England enjoys every one of these advantages for enriching
a Nation, which I have above enumerated, and into
the bargain, a good million returned to them every
year without labour or hazard, or one farthing value
received on our side. But how long we shall be
able to continue the payment, I am not under the least
concern. One thing I know, that when the hen
is starved to death, there will be no more golden eggs.

I think it a little unhospitable, and others may call
it a subtile piece of malice, that, because there
may be a dozen families in this Town, able to entertain
their English friends in a generous manner at their
tables, their guests upon their return to England,
shall report that we wallow in riches and luxury.

Yet I confess I have known an hospital, where all
the household officers grew rich, while the poor for
whose sake it was built, were almost starving for
want of food and raiment.

To conclude. If Ireland be a rich and flourishing
Kingdom, its wealth and prosperity must be owing to
certain causes, that are yet concealed from the whole
race of mankind, and the effects are equally invisible.
We need not wonder at strangers when they deliver such
paradoxes, but a native and inhabitant of this Kingdom,
who gives the same verdict, must be either ignorant
to stupidity, or a man-pleaser at the expense of all
honour, conscience and truth.

THE STORY

OF THE

INJURED LADY.

WRITTEN BY HERSELF.

AND

THE ANSWER TO THE

INJURED LADY.

NOTE.

Under the guises of a gentleman and
two ladies, Swift represents England, Scotland,
and Ireland—­England being the gentleman
and Scotland and Ireland the two mistresses for
whom he is affecting an honourable love.
The Injured Lady is Ireland, who represents her rival,
Scotland, as unworthy of her lover’s attention.
She expatiates on her own attractions and upbraids
him also on his treatment of her. This affords
Swift an opportunity for some searching and telling
criticism on England’s conduct towards Ireland.
The fiction is admirably maintained throughout the
story.